This is Laudrup's strongest statement yet on his future:
Been There, Done That: Michael Laudrup Says Playing Success Means He Doesn't Need to be a Top Manager
23 Feb 2013 22:30
“I have a lot of ambition with the team I have, but I don’t have that ambition of being the best," the Dane said ahead of the Capital One Cup Final
Michael Laudrup’s exploits at Swansea City have made him one of world football’s most sought-after managers.
Chelsea and Real Madrid have already been strongly linked with the Dane, who proudly leads out the Welsh team in their first major final, at ¬Wembley today.
But Laudrup has a shock answer to any mega-clubs closely ¬monitoring his progress.
He said: “I do not want to be known as one of the best managers in the world.
“I have a lot of ambition with the team I have, but I don’t have that ambition of being the best.”
They are words which will delight Swansea fans, and Laudrup also insists he will honour his contract, which runs until the end of next season.
He could even stay longer, if the club ¬continue on his wavelength.
Laudrup was never one for the bright lights in his playing days, when he performed with such ¬distinction for Real Madrid, ¬Barcelona and Juventus. He has no wish for the spotlight now either.
“I’ve already been there as a player. I know how it is. That’s maybe why I don’t have that ambition as a manager. I don’t need it,” he said. “I understand the ambition of Brendan Rodgers (his predecessor at Swansea) completely. The same with Sir Alex ¬Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.
“They are fantastic managers.
“But I don’t have any special dream or ¬ambition to go to one of the really big clubs. I just try to do what I am good at as well as possible.
“I just hope that people can see the team I build — and appreciate it.
“Let’s say I set my sights on ¬Manchester United or City, on Chelsea, Real ¬Madrid or Juventus. After 10 years I make it — what I’ve been dreaming of all that time,” he said.
“I finish ¬second in the league. I go out of the Champions League on penalties in the semi-final.
“I lose 2-1 in the domestic Cup final. The board come to me and say: ‘Michael, we’re sorry. But no ¬trophy. Goodbye and thank you very much’.
“So, 10 years to get there. And after nine months I’m out! I’m not living like that.
“You can’t live like that.”
Laudrup knows that Swansea are definitely a ‘big club’ today against Bradford, and that neutrals will be hoping for a Wembley shock.
He admitted: “I cheered for Bradford ¬myself... everybody supports the ¬underdog! I know how the game will be. We will have the ball for 60 or 70 per cent of the time. But it is how we deal with the ball — and how we react when we lose it — that will decide the winners.”
Laudrup was part of the Barcelona side which won the European Cup in 1992, at Wembley. “That was the first time the club won the biggest trophy,” he recalled. “It would be nice to make this a first time for Swansea as well.”
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http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/swansea-boss-michael-laudrup-says-17 |  |
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